The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course is designed to prepare individuals to render pre hospital Basic Life Support (BLS) care at the scene of an emergency and during transport of the sick and injured. Instruction will cover the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (attitude) aspects of pre-hospital EMS, with the goal of developing proficient and compassionate emergency healthcare professionals who conduct themselves with integrity and humility.

EMT Program Requirements

  • Attend an Information Session
  • Must be 18 years of age or older
  • Apply to Saddleback College to become a student

Summer 2024

Date Time Zoom Link
February 6 3 - 4 p.m. No registration required. Join Session
March 5 9 - 10 a.m. No registration required. Join Session
April 2 3 - 4 p.m. No registration required. Join Session

Fall 2024

Date Time Zoom Link
June 4 9 - 10 a.m. No registration required. Join Session
July 2 3 - 4 p.m. No registration required. Join Session

Download the HS Health Packet

 

EMT students will be required to obtain the following titers/immunizations/vaccines in order to complete program clinical requirements. It is highly encouraged to get started as soon as you are registered for EMT 207 and EMT 207C. 

  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • TDAP
  • Hepatitis B
  • TB skin test
  • COVID-19 vaccine/booster
  • Seasonal flu shot (when available)


EMT students are required to complete the following items. Failure to do so within the deadlines listed will result in you not moving forward in the program.

Immunizations/Titers/Physical

  • Fall 2023 Due Date: 9/22/23
  • Spring 2024 Due Date: 1/28/2024
  • Summer 2024 Due Date: TBD


All EMT students are required to obtain a “Program Clearance” through the Student Health & Wellness Center, to do so you must make a telehealth appointment at https://studenthealth.saddleback.edu. This appointment will provide you with the information and necessary immunizations and titers required for your individual needs. Once you have completed your Telehealth appointment, the RN will discuss your options and needs for your Program Clearance. If you are not registered in any courses at Saddleback this semester, the link above will not let you proceed to making an appointment, please contact the Student Health & Wellness Center at (949) 582-4606 to make the telehealth appointment by phone. Click here to view the Student Health & Wellness Center office hours.

Required immunizations, titers, physical are listed on the packet. You may choose to use your own health care provider or get this done through the health center. If you use your own healthcare provider, they must fill out the “Evaluation & Recommendation” page included in your “Mandatory Health Assessments” packet. Once signed by your physician, you will submit this to the health center via fax. 

All immunizations and lab results must be faxed to (949) 582-4227; cannot be emailed, as it is not HIPAA compliant for health care records. If you do not have access to a fax, you can download a fax app through your phone. You may also mail it (but fax is preferred):

Student Health Center-SSC 177
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692

Program Clearances can take up to 3 months for necessary immunizations and or titers to be completed. Please do not delay in making your appointments.  If you have any questions, please call the Student Health & Wellness Center at (949) 582-4606. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT PROGRAM CLEARANCE TO US. THE HEALTH CENTER WILL EMAIL YOU A COPY AND CC US.

Health Insurance

Due Date: Must be valid for the semester in which the EMT program is taken.

Proof of health insurance is required. Students who do not have health insurance will need to find a basic plan that covers them through the semester. Individual plans can be found on the web at Covered California, Kaiser, Anthem, Blue Shield, Medi-cal, etc.

COVID Vaccine

At this time, the EMT clinical sites that provide clinical hours and patient contacts require all vaccinations including Covid-19 (primary series and one booster)

CastleBranch Background/Drug Test

  • Fall 2023 Due Date: 9/22/23
  • Spring 2024 Due Date: 1/28/24
  • Summer 2024 Due Date: TBD


All students will be required to complete a background/drug test. The package cost is $92.75. To place order visit: https://discover.castlebranch.com/.

Instructions: Select> “Place order” at the top right of page. Enter package code: SJ40bgdt. Within 24 hours of your order being placed, CastleBranch will register you to take your test with a lab in your area. Allow 5-7 days for results. The results will be sent to Saddleback automatically. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT ANYTHING FOR THIS. We have access to see the results upon completion and will be tracking this.  Once completed, you may view the report by accessing your account on the Castle Branch website. Your order will show “In Process” until it has been completed. The EMT Program Director has secure access to your account and will confirm that it has cleared via the website. If there are any problems, the EMT Program Director will contact you to discuss them with you confidentially. Similarly, if you have any concerns, you may contact the EMT Program Director to discuss them confidentially.

CastleBranch Compliance Tracker

  • Fall 2023 Due Date: 9/22/23
  • Spring 2024 Due Date: 1/28/24
  • Summer 2024 Due Date: TBD


To place order visit: https://discover.castlebranch.com/. Once you are on the CastleBranch site, select “Place order” at the top right of the page. Enter package code: SJ40im. The package cost is $39.99. Instructions on which documents need to be uploaded by students will be given in class.

Students will be directed on which documents need to be uploaded during the paperwork sessions that will be held during class on the due dates listed above.

Basic Life Support/CPR Card

  • Due Date: Prior to the first day of class every semester


Prior to the first day of class, you are required to have a valid BLS CPR card, must be through the American Heart Association (no other providers accepted) throughout the entire length of the program.

BLS CPR Card Sample

You can do the BLS Provider course at any authorized AHA Training Center, which you can find at https://cpr.heart.org, or check out the list below for some AHA Training Centers in the Orange County area. Please note that The CPR Lady will give a 10% discount to all Saddleback EMT students (when registering, use Promo Code “SADDLEBACK”)

Training Centers:
The CPR Lady - thecprlady.net
Lifeline Healthcare Education - lifelinecpr.com
National Protection & Safety - npsc.us
Center for Healthcare Education - healthcareeducation.org

Student ID

  • Fall 2023 Due Date: 9/22/23
  • Spring 2024 Due Date: 1/28/24
  • Summer 2024 Due Date: TBD


To obtain your student ID card, you must be registered in a course at Saddleback. You may do so online or in person in the Admissions & Records office located in SSC 102 – see the Admissions & Records page for details. Once completed, the Admissions & Records office will print and distribute your card. You will carry your Student ID card on you in skill/clinical days.

Uniform

  • Due Date: Prior to the first skills day, every semester


We will address your attire for clinical on the first day of class during orientation. White cotton polo top, $20+; dark blue bottoms, $30+; dark athletic shoes, $25+ (prices are estimates).


COURSE TEXTBOOK & ONLINE ACCESS CODE – Our EMT course uses the Jones & Bartlett online “Navigate 2 PREMIER Access” system, which includes an electronic version of the course textbook.  The textbook is “Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12th Edition.” You have 3 options depending on whether or not you want a hardcopy version of the textbook (all options include the Navigate 2 Premier Access Code that you will need for most of the course assignments):

Option 1 HARDCOPY TEXTBOOK 
Saddleback College Bookstore
Includes Navigate 2 Premier Access Code
Navigate 2 includes eTextbook
Get Option 1 $433.95
Option 2 HARDCOPY TEXTBOOK 
Direct From Vendor
Includes Navigate 2 Premier Access Code
Navigate 2 includes eTextbook
 
Get Option 2 $341.96
Option 3 ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK ONLY (No Hardcopy)
Direct From Vendor
Includes Navigate 2 Premier Access Code
Navigate 2 includes eTextbook
Get Option 3 $295.46

You should have the required course materials (textbook and access code) by the first day of class so that you do not fall behind. Also, chapters 5 and 6 are extremely important to your success in the course because they focus on the foundational topics of anatomy, physiology, and terminology. Therefore, we recommend reading these chapters multiple times, and studying them thoroughly, before the first day of class. Remember to purchase the PREMIER level package/access code (Not “Advantage,” Not “Essentials”).

NOTE: Students will have access to the Navigate 2 system and all of its learning resources for 1 year after the access code has been activated.

Certification and Employment Opportunities

Upon successful completion of EMT 207/207C and the NREMT examination, the student will be eligible for certification as an EMT. There are additional requirements and costs for certification that will be discussed in class, or you may call the Orange County Emergency Medical Services Agency (OCEMS) for more information. Employment opportunities are available with ambulance companies, in hospitals and with other organizations such as ski patrol and lifeguards.

Other EMT Education Opportunities

If you plan to become a Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic (MICP), you will need at least one year of full time work experience as an EMT, ideally on an ambulance that responds to 911 calls. Saddleback College offers a Paramedic Preparatory Course (EMT 219), which is highly recommended if you are planning to enroll in the Paramedic Program, and which can also be used to meet EMT Continuing Education requirements.

2023-2024 Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance at Saddleback College includes an estimate for tuition and fees, books
and supplies as well as basic living expenses like food and housing, and personal and miscellaneous
expenses. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than the amounts listed below.

Expenses Living With Parents (2 Semesters) Living Away from Parents (2 semesters)
Tuition & Fees $1,426 $1,426
Books & Supplies $938 $938
Living Expenses: Food & Housing $12,656 $22,670
Personal & Misc. $3,608 $4,428
Transportation $1,612 $1,764
Total Resident $20,240 $31,226
Total Non-Resident $32,540 $43,526
Expenses Living with Parents Living Away from Parents
Tuition & Fees $709 $709
Books & Supplies $312 $312
Living Expenses: Food & Housing $4,218 $7,557
Personal & Misc. $1,203 $1,476
Transportation $537 $588
Total Resident $6,979 $10,642
Total Non-Resident $13,129 $16,792
Expenses Living With Parents Living Away from Parents
  Summer Fall & Spring Summer Fall & Spring
Tuition & Fees $1,426 $709 $1,426 $709
Books & Supplies $938 $312 $938 $312
Transportation $1,612 $537 $1,764 $588
Total Resident $3,976 $1,558 $4,128 $1,609
Total Non-Resident $16,275 $7,708 $16,428 $7,759
  • Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit
    • Based on 15-units for Fall, Spring and Summer
  • Health Fee $26 for Fall and Spring, $22 for Summer
  • Non-Resident Tuition (in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee): $410 per unit ($365 non-resident tuition fee + $45 capital outlay fee)
  • Estimated cost of attendance may be adjusted for documented circumstances such as dependent care expenses, purchase of a computer, and other special circumstances (except for students enrolled less than half-time)

Optional fees

  • ASG Sticker - $10
  • Student Representation Fee - $2.00 (per semester)
  • Parking Permit Fee
  • Instructional Material Fees - as listed in the Schedule of Classes

Contact the Emergency Medical Technician Program